Victory Party

The day after the midterm exams.

Chabashira-sensei strode through the classroom, looking around in surprise. Everyone were on edge, holding their breaths in anticipation of the test results.

"Sensei. We were told that the results would be announced today, but when?" Hirata spoke up in our behalf.

"There's no need for you to get so worked up, Hirata. You should have passed quite easily."

"So, when will the results be released?"

"Well, if you'd like, now is as good a time as any. If we waited to do it after class, we wouldn't have enough time for other procedures."

Some of the students visibly reacted to the words "other procedures." The threat of expulsion is still looking over us. Until the results are confirmed, it will be unknown if we get to leave or not.

"What…do you mean by that?"

"Don't get flustered. I'll tell you now."

As usual, she revealed the details simultaneously and collectively. She stuck a large, white sheet of paper with everyone's names and test scores on it.

"Honestly, I'm impressed. I didn't think that you'd score so well. Many students tied with perfect scores in mathematics, Japanese, and social studies. More than ten of you, actually."

Some of the students shouted in joy and delight when they saw the 100s lined up on the results sheet. However, some weren't smiling.

I looked at my test scores. All four of my subjects scored excellently right above 80, and even had my English score at perfect score. My mathematics score on the other hand sat gently on 50 points.

A sighed out of relief. It was safe.

"We showed you, sensei! When we really try our best, we can do anything!" Ike wore a smug, confident look.

"Yes, I recognize that. You all did very well. You all passed. Congratulations."

"We did it everyone." Hirata, who was the most concerned for the class more than anyone, rejoiced happily.

It turned the entire class with great mood. With Hirata's charisma, the happy atmosphere only amplified. What a fearsome individual. No wonder he has the highest recorded Overall Score in OAA app.

After the homeroom, Chabashira-sensei left. It was time for our first period classes.

...

"Cheers!" Ike shouted joyfully and toasted with a can of juice.

After an intense grueling study sessions for three weeks, everyone finally got to relax after the exceptional test results. Even the ever solitary Horikita is together with us for a celebration.

"What's with the long face Ayanokouji? No one was expelled. Everything's fine now right?" Yamauchi who is lying down on the bed acting like he owned the place said.

"I don't particularly mind that you're holding a celebration party, but why are you holding it in my room?" Ayanokouji said.

"Mine's a mess so are Yamauchi's, I dunno about Sakuragi though... And we can't go to a girl's room, right? I mean, yeah, I would've loved going to Kushida-chan's room. But your spectacularly plain and empty room is the best option." Ike said.

"It's only been two months since school started. I think it'd be weird to have a lot of stuff."

"I'm sorry for the trouble, Ayanokouji." I said.

"It's nothing. You don't really need to apologize."

"Thanks. But I feel bad for intruding in your place, I'll be helping with the cleanup later." I said.

"All things considered, though, that midterm was dangerous. If we hadn't put the study group together, I would've been fine, but Ike and Sakuragi would have definitely gotten kicked out."

"I don't know where you got that high horse. I got the highest scores out of the three of us. I even got a perfect score in English."

"Huh? You were close to getting expelled, too, you know." Ike rebutted.

"No, no, I could have gotten a perfect score if I were serious about it. Really."

"Everything was thanks to Horikita-san's efforts. She tutored Ike, Yamauchi, and Sakuragi." Kushida tries to calm us down.

Horikita sat outside the circle, quietly reading a novel. When we said her name, she bookmarked her page and looked up.

"I did it for my own sake. If someone had been expelled, Class D's evaluation would've worsened."

"Just say that you didn't want us to get expelled, even if it's a lie. You'd get more friends that way."

"It'd be fine to me even if I don't get any." She dismissed me. What a cold-hearted girl, is she a descendant of a Yuki-onna?

Well, her attitude remained unchanged, but simply participating in this gathering was a sign of her progress. The old Horikita most definitely would not have come.

"Even though we managed to make it through the midterm, we shouldn't lose our heads. Our next challenge is the final exam. We should expect those questions to be even more difficult than the ones today. In addition, we still need to find a way to score increase our points."

"Do we really need to start this hellish cramming all over again? This sucks." Ike buried his head in his hands.

"Don't you think that if we start right now, it won't be hellish?" Kushida said.

"No!" He sounded sure about that.

"I don't understand this school at all. I don't get the class divisions, the point system, anything."

"Ah, points. I want points! Living in poverty really sucks."

After Ike and Yamauchi had used up all of their points, they'd had to resort to living off the school's free offerings.

"Hey, Horikita-san. Do you think it'll be really difficult to get more points?"

"We tried so hard on the midterm that they'll definitely give us some points, right?!"

"Did you not see Class D's average score? We were the lowest of all of the classes by far. If you think that we'll get points for that, then I think you need to open your eyes."

Horikita spoke the truth without mercy, without sugarcoating anything.

"Then we're not getting any points next month, either. Boo."

"I think you should learn to live a more modest life and give up on points."

"Don't worry, Ike-kun. We may not get any points right now, but surely we'll get some soon. Right, Horikita-san?"

"I wonder about that."

"Can I say something? We're all friends here, after all. Horikita-san, Ayanokouji-kun, and I are all working together to get into Class A. If you're okay with it, I want you three to help us," Kushida said.

"Get into…Class A? A-are you serious?" Ike said.

"Yes. I absolutely am. Increasing our points is an inevitable part of getting to the top as well."

"Well if you had a grand and lofty goal of reaching Class A, then wouldn't be getting more people to cooperate to your cause better? There's only so much a single person can do."

"I suppose. But I already have somebody in mind to handle that for me." Horikita's eyes looked over Ayanokouji.

"Hey, don't you just push it all over to me." Ayanokouji complained.

"B-but, isn't the idea of reaching Class A kind of ridiculous? They're all smart, right? It'd be impossible for us to win against those guys by studying."

When you considered their average test scores, everyone in that class was probably on Horikita's level.

"Studying isn't the sole factor in deciding who goes into what class, though. Right?"

"Yeah, but if you can't study at all, then moving up is out of the question. We're still far from our goal, but we can do it if we all work together. I know it." Horikita declared.

"Then count me in. If there's anything I can help with, just call me right up."